Thales creates new artificial intelligence centre in Montreal

Thales SA, whose products range from aerospace to defence, security and transportation, is opening an artificial intelligence centre in Montreal and will hire 50 people for the new facility.

The new hub, called the Centre of Research and Technology in Artificial Intelligence eXpertise (cortAIx), will focus on creating solutions for airlines, satellite operators, air traffic controllers, rail operators, armed forces and critical infrastructure managers, Thales said in a statement.

Canada is becoming a destination for foreign companies working in AI. San Francisco-based Uber Technologies Inc. set up shop in Toronto earlier this year to help improve its autonomous vehicle software, while Alphabet Inc.’s Google also has an AI presence in Toronto and Montreal. Paris-based Thales said it was attracted to Montreal because of its rich ecosystem of AI-focused universities and laboratories. Facebook Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., have also opened AI research labs in the city.

The new centre will be working with Google-backed Vector Institute of Toronto, the Artificial Intelligence Institute of Quebec and the Institute of Data Valorization.